Assam Police Arrests Two Men For Elephant Ivory Smuggling

The Special Task Force of the Assam Police arrested two individuals in the Tamulpur district for the illegal possession of elephant tusks. The operation took place late at night in the Bangalipara area, which is situated near the border between India and Bhutan. The police recovered two pieces of elephant ivory weighing a total of 4.06 kilograms from the suspects.

Details of the Arrest and Seizure

The two people arrested have been identified as 24-year-old Gwhwm Basumatary and 23-year-old Swdwbma Basumatary. Both men are residents of the Tamulpur district. The STF team acted on specific intelligence regarding an illegal trade deal to carry out the arrests. The seized ivory consisted of two separate tusks weighing 2.09 kilograms and 1.97 kilograms. During initial questioning, the accused mentioned they were trying to sell the tusks for approximately ₹6 lakh.

Legal Action and Investigation

Following the arrests, the police filed a formal case under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. The suspects and the seized items were handed over to the Forest Department for further processing. A local court has sent both individuals to judicial custody. Forest officials and the police are now working together to find out where the tusks came from and to identify other people who might be involved in this smuggling network.